The Bassball Cages is ready to rock in Ashwaubenon

Rich Palzewic

Staff

December 29, 2025

ASHWAUBENON – The Bassball Cages in Ashwaubenon is open for business – and General Manager Jace Baumann said it’s already a hit.

The timing of its opening, Baumann said, feels almost scripted.

The 27-year-old said he spent his childhood on baseball diamonds and later in the coach’s box, and though those days were behind him, he wasn’t ready to walk away from the sport.

Fortunately, he said, the Green Bay Rockers came calling.

After his professional playing career ended in August, Baumann said he reached out to “pretty much every team he knew of in Wisconsin,” looking for a baseball-related job.

Baumann said his dreams of a career in baseball came to fruition with the opening of The Bassball Cages – an indoor batting facility located at 2343 Holmgren Way near Capital Credit Union Park, the home of the Green Bay Rockers.

Baumann, who played collegiately at the University of Wisconsin-Stout, said he didn’t really have any affiliation with the club before being named GM of the new facility.

“The only small affiliation with the team I had was that I played in their same league – the Northwoods League – for four years while in college playing for the Wausau Woodchucks,” he said. “In addition to my general manager duties, I will offer coaching in the form of one-on-one lessons and also lead clinics.”

Baumann’s background and commitment to player development align with what Rockers Vice President and GM John Fanta said they hope the facility will bring to the area.

Fanta said the club is excited to provide a new community space that can be used for both individual work and team training.

“The goal is to provide a space for baseball and softball players of all ages and abilities to hone their craft and love for the game,” he said.

Baumann said the Bassball Cages name ties the bass guitar, which is the fabric of the Green Bay Rockers logo, into a fun play on the word “baseball.”

“The Bassball Cages is gaining momentum,” he said. “The people who have been using our full cages have loved them. I’ve had some groups come back multiple times. At the grand opening event [in November], quite a few people came through that day. The cages were in full use for probably four hours that day, and then people trickled in to check things out.”

Baumann said he expects traffic to spike over winter break and pick up again as spring approaches.

“With construction on the facility recently completed, we want to make sure everything is tight before our busy times and work out any issues we’re having,” he said. “Having said that, we’re currently not experiencing any issues – we just want to make sure it’s all good.”

With baseball and softball seasons occurring mainly in the spring and summer, Baumann said space for area teams is always an issue – “especially in the winter and spring while prepping for the upcoming season.”

“When teams are trying to prep or at least get a little work in, you have basketball taking up gym times at schools,” he said. “If teams are looking to get a practice or open gym in ahead of time – and it not be at 10 p.m. – there is an option here for them.”

Baumann said the Rockers also have fundraising options, which can help offset facility rentals for teams.

“We can’t tell [teams] how to use the money, but several teams have said they’re going to use that money here at the cages,” he said.

With the Rockers coming off their second Northwoods League title in the last three years, Baumann said you might even spot a player or two from the squad utilizing the Bassball Cages when the season begins.

“The players will probably be around if they want to get their work in before games,” he said. “You get to see the players you’re watching on the field working out, which is exciting and cool. Maybe some of them will even want to do lessons on their own time, but with a 72-game schedule, that might be asking a lot.”

Offerings

Baumann said the indoor training facility – located next to the EPIC Event Center in Ashwaubenon – features 10 batting cages and pitching lanes along with a pro shop that carries the latest in-style gear.

“Six of the 10 cages are full-length,” he said. “They run about 85 or 90 feet, and we can set up a pitching machine [for a small fee] for use. We are completely fine setting up machines in them, but for the most part, I see those as a dad or mom throwing to their kid in the cage.”

Baumann said he can supply additional accessories upon request.

“I can also set up mounds and softball pitching mats in those full-length cages,” he said. “There are also fielding-practice options. We can push all the middle dividers back to create a big fielding space. You can get almost a 90-foot throw if we do that. Basically, it would be like throwing it across the infield.”

Baumann said the facility offers enough room for a youth team to set up an entire infield.

“I think that’s an awesome opportunity for teams,” he said. “I think the biggest thing is we can open up the space and do whatever we want. Once they have this space, we’re not really dictating how they use it. You could have someone hitting, throwing or working on their fielding.”

The remaining four cages, Baumann said, are half-length.

“Those four cages will have permanent pitching machines in them, with no upcharge for their use,” he said. “Once you get in the cage and we set something up for you, you can hit as much as you want [for your time slot]. It’s not priced per bucket – it’s priced for 30-minute time slots. I think those four cages are perfect for someone who doesn’t have anyone to throw to them.”

Baumann said the facility is also equipped with a nine-pocket pitching net and a variety of tees.

“We also have a built-in stretching room,” he said. “If you want to come in early for your time slot, that’s free to use. We have bands, some small weights, etc., to warm up with. We’re also building a plyo wall off to the side where pitchers – and really anybody for that matter – can warm up with.”

Utilizing the entire space, Baumann said, is the goal.

“We’re trying to get as many people in as possible,” he said. “If a full team came in and wanted to rent it out, we have pricing options for that. There is a lot of creativity with what we can do.”

Baumann said the facility also has a conference room that can accommodate small gatherings.

“Maybe that is a birthday party or a small get-together where people come and also hit for a while,” he said. “We can also cater food through Boomerang Catering, the catering company through the Rockers.”

Scheduling, Baumann said, can be done through bassballcages.com.

“Anybody can book online themselves, walk right in and we’ll have your cage ready,” he said. “You can add notes as well – if you want a mound, a machine, etc. The rental machines are first-come, first-served at the front desk if we have those available.”

Baumann said The Bassball Cages also offers membership plans.

“You don’t have to be a member to use the facility, but memberships are also an option,” he said. “Our memberships are more of a package where you get some bonuses, like a pro shop discount, etc. Some of the memberships also have Rockers tickets attached to them, some clinic and lesson discounts, etc.”

Baumann said for pricing, interested parties can navigate their way to Facebook or the website.

Through Jan. 29, Baumann said readers who mention they read The Bassball Cages’ article in The Business News, will receive $4 off a half-hour rental.

“It’s $24 for a half-hour rental, so by simply mentioning you saw the article in The Business News, that would drop it down to $20,” he said. 

A journey from first base to home

A native of Mosinee, Baumann said after spending two years as a graduate assistant at Division III Crown College in Minnesota, he played professionally in the United Shore Professional Baseball League in Michigan.

“I also spent some time in the American Association with the Lake Country DockHounds and the Kansas City Monarchs,” he said.

During his time in Milwaukee, Baumann said one of his side jobs was working at a baseball/softball facility similar to Impact Sports Academy (ISA) in De Pere.

“That facility ran some teams out of there, and I helped with clinics and any practices they had,” he said. “I just enjoy coaching and working with players. After my playing days were done, if I could be around baseball, I knew I’d be pretty happy.”

Ironically, Baumann said when he reached out to the Rockers and they reached back, he wasn’t even aware of their plans to build the Bassball Cages.

“I needed to find a ‘big boy job,’” he laughed. “John ended up getting back to me, saying they were opening these cages, and it sounded like an awesome opportunity. As the process has gone on, I’ve been able to put a little bit of my touch into it as well, which I’m grateful for.”

Baumann said everybody with the Rockers organization has been great to work with.

“They’re open to my ideas, but they also have their own ideas,” he said. “I feel like we’re collaborating well to make a great experience for whoever comes to these cages.”